Expo 2020′s workers face hardships despite Dubai’s promises
Summary
Date Reported: 5 Dec 2021
Location: United Arab Emirates
Companies
Emrill Services - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 1 - Cameroon , Cleaning & maintenance , Gender not reported )Issues
Poverty Wages , Right to FoodResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre; Journalist
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Both AP and the Resource Centre sought response from the companies to no avail. Additional response sought from authorities by AP was not addressed. Response sought from Expo organisers by NGO Equidem resulted in Expo claiming it "takes worker welfare “extremely seriously". However, calls for response from Expo by AP were dismissed. Emrill Services commented AP that "it takes emplpoyee well-being very seriously" and promised to investigate.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 5 Dec 2021
Location: United Arab Emirates
Companies
Arkan (Ejadah) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Security companies , Gender not reported )Issues
Right to Food , Personal HealthResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre; Journalist
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Both AP and the Resource Centre sought response from the companies to no avail. Additional response sought from authorities by AP was not addressed. Response sought from Expo organisers by NGO Equidem resulted in Expo claiming it "takes worker welfare “extremely seriously". However, calls for response from Expo by AP were dismissed. Arkan did not respond to requests for comment
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 5 Dec 2021
Location: United Arab Emirates
Companies
First Security Group - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 1 - India , Security companies , Gender not reported )Issues
Right to Food , Intimidation , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre; Journalist
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Both AP and the Resource Centre sought response from the companies to no avail. Additional response sought from authorities by AP was not addressed. Response sought from Expo organisers by NGO Equidem resulted in Expo claiming it "takes worker welfare “extremely seriously". However, calls for response from Expo by AP were dismissed. First Security Group did not respond to requests for comment.
Source type: News outlet
Dubai, highly sensitive to its image, is aware that Expo is drawing attention to its labor practices. It has held companies on the project to higher-than-normal standards of worker treatment. Contractors offer better wages and benefits to Expo workers, compared with elsewhere in the country, and many say they are grateful for the jobs.
But violations have persisted... Advocates blame the UAE’s labor sponsorship system that relies on chains of foreign subcontractors, ties workers’ residency to their jobs, and gives outsized power to employers...
Eric, a cleaner from Cameroon, said he and his colleagues protested to Dubai-based Emrill Services about expensive food and the lack of kitchen access but got no response. They make less than $300 a month, with no food allowance...
Guards at the Expo entrance working for Dubai-based company Arkan said they were promised hot meals during their break in an eight-hour shift. Despite repeatedly asking supervisors for the past three months, the guards received nothing, leaving them hungry throughout the day...
They described constant surveillance, with managers threatening salary deductions and other penalties for accidentally dozing or for breaks that stretch too long.
“If you show up late for attendance, if you close your eyes on the job, if you go inside too many times, you’ll lose pay for a day at least,” said one Indian guard with Dubai-based First Security Group at Expo.